CBD: Seeking a Shepherd as BCA flock scatters

It’s not been a great couple of years for the Business Council of Australia.

Even conservatives are using the big end of town as a political punching bag, having dumped corporate tax cuts in favour of talk about a royal commission into the energy sector.

So it is not surprising that some on the BCA’s board, which includes Woodside boss Peter Coleman and Energy Australia chief Catherine Tanna, are agitating for change.

GWS chairman Tony Shepherd, pictured here at a Senate hearing in 2014, has been approached by some worried Business Council of Australia members and urged to consider a return to the organisation.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Those familiar with the matter suggest Qantas boss Alan Joyce was approached to replace BCA president Grant King, who took the job in November 2016 and has struggled to hold back the tide of anti-business sentiment.

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Joyce is said to have politely declined the offer.

Now former BCA president Tony Shepherd has been asked to consider a second term.

Shepherd is certainly a more forceful character than King and is very close to the BCA’s chief executive Jennifer Westacott. Time for a harder head at the top?

Saturday night draws pollies

Shepherd's other job is chairing the Greater Western Sydney Giants. His delight in their Saturday victory over the Sydney Swans was no doubt shared by Labor’s treasury spokesman Chris Bowen, who was spotted at the SCG wearing his GWS best.

Next door, at Allianz Stadium, Prime Minister Scott Morrison spent most of his time in the Roosters’ corporate box (where former Nine boss David Gyngell was also spotted), despite being an ardent Cronulla Sharks fan.

Around the corner, Racing Australia chief Barry O’Farrell and Australian Rugby League Commission chair Peter Beattie shared a box with Innovation Minister Matt Kean, who remained upbeat despite the disastrous result from the Wagga Wagga byelection rolling in.

Canberra's musical chairs

Health Minister Greg Hunt (pictured) is likely to lose one of his long-time advisors, Alex Caroly, to the Prime Minister's Office as staff adjust to a new leadership.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Parliament is back, but the collateral damage from last month’s final brutal sitting week has yet to settle with the Prime Minister’s Office and cabinet ministers still sorting through the appointment of new advisers and the departure of old staff.

Luke Coleman, who’d been Fifield’s top man since February, will be replaced by communications adviser Luke Tobin.

The office's NBN adviser Jenelle Frewen also finished on Friday.

Keenan’s former chief of staff, Sarah Wood, has already departed, while Tudge’s well-regarded chief of staff John Deller is now with new Industry Minister Karen Andrews.

For his part, Tudge has taken on two of Social Services Minister Paul Fletcher’s infrastructure advisers, Ali Nelson and Rebecca Meyer.

Meanwhile, one of Health Minister Greg Hunt’s most senior advisers since his time as environment minister, Alex Caroly, has been tipped to head to PMO to take over the climate change and environment policy portfolio.

Cath Pattinson, a former adviser in Hunt’s office and in Turnbull’s PMO, is also expected to remain in the big office as Morrison settles in.

Speculation is still running hot on whether former John Howard staffer David Gazard will make a return, but those close to him say he isn't giving up his lucrative lobbying job with ECG Advisory.

The man in question has been enjoying a respite from politics in Spain walking the Camino de Santiago.

Dreaming of sweet returns

News Corp Australia's executive chairman Michael Miller (pictured) on Friday announced a "HiPages for adult services" would be put in a development program run by the publishing giant.Credit:Daniel Munoz

News Corp Australia boss Michael Miller has long worried about the loss of adult services classifieds (ads for escorts and sex lines in case you are wondering) that populate the middle pages of the Daily Telegraph.

Much of this business has moved online.

Fortunately, Miller is doing something about this troubling instance of digital disruption.

In an email to staff on Friday, he announced seven high-tech ideas from the “News Bolt Pitch Day” would progress to a two-month “accelerator program”.

One of these was a “HiPages for adult services” called Sweet Dreams.

HiPages is where you go online to find a plumber.

Hopefully, Sweet Dreams can do the same for those seeking “sexy kittens and raunchy cougars”.